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Winemaker's Notes

This wine is named in honur of d'Arenberg's principal, Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, universally known as d'Arry.

d'Arry's Original is very much a traditional style of wine, being rich, lucious and opulently soft and very much an expression of terroir and variety which ages spectacularly. The final blend varies from year to year in an effort to maintain the well-established hallmarks of d'Arry's Original.

Hints of coffee & caramel on the nose are usually quite evident on the palate; a backdrop for cherry-raspberry & richer mulberry-blackberry primary fruit. The palate is typically d'Arenberg & McLaren Vale, soft & rich in the middle, rolling on to a soft but slightly piquant acid/tannin finish.

Well cellared, d'Arry's Original becomes, soft, generous, full flavoured, velvety long & seamless in bottle, with no particular component standing out, as more than four decades of previous vintages have shown.

Serve at room temperature 16 – 24 ºC. now or over the next 3 – 20 years with grilled or barbecued meats, potato based dishes, dishes with noodles, rice pasta, cous cous, served with beef, veal or lamb. Roast meats and mature cheese.

Critical Acclaim

JH91

Australian Wine Companion - "Very much in the mainstream of the style, welding together ripe juicy fruit flavours, warm spices and a dash of regional chocolate; good length and balance. Screwcap."

d'Arenberg Winery

One of the undisputed kings of Australian Shiraz and Rhone varietals, d'Arenberg has managed to turn individuality into an art form by doing a whole lot of little things differently. The original vineyards were established by Joseph Osborn in 1912 in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. A century on, the estate has grown to 345 acres, and the mantle now rests with fourth-generation winemaker, Chester Osborn. By maintaining a focus on traditional winemaking and nurturing their old-vine material, the Osborn clan has successfully established themselves as one of the country's leading producers of concentrated wines that are full of character.
View all d'Arenberg Wines

About McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is home to the oldest Australian vineyard, with grapes planted in 1838. It's a coastal area, the Indian Ocean bordering the west, which leads to a cooling factor that prevents the grapes from getting too hot. In all, the climate is a perfect one for the vines.

Notable Facts

In McLaren Vale, there are vines as far as the eye can see. As in other parts of Australia, Shiraz and Grenache are the top grapes of the region, with some Cabernet Sauvignon planted as well. While red rules, whites are able to hold their own here too. With the warm yet reasonable Mediterranean climate, white grapes like Chardonnay, Semillon and even some Sauvignon Blanc grow well. The wines are round and smooth and the producers in the regions are excellent.

About Australia

Like the United States, which is about the same size, Australia's winemaking regions are huddled into one or two pockets of the country. The state of South Australia, which produces about 60% of the country's wine, also has the most wineries and sub-regions, including McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and Barossa Valley. New South Wales is home to the Hunter Valley, while the smaller, southern state of
Victoria is best known for theYarra Valley. Head way west to the very large state of Western Australia and you'll find the tiny region of Margaret River at the southern tip.

15 ratings, 10 with reviews

I am a Cab drinker. But, I tried this Shiraz and the '06 Trellis Cab. Horror of all horrors the Shiraz/Grenache was very good, so I am buying again. Will not by d'Arenbergs '06 Trellis Cab... who would have guessed?

For twenty bucks, it's a great buy. Overall though, I found it to be just okay. No flavors especially stood out. It bordered on bland, but it wasn't a bad wine. It was smooth, not bitter; light not heavy. The alcohol wasn't overwhelming like I thought it would be based on smell. I generally drink Rhone Reds, which might contribute to why I think it's bland.

Perhaps the previous years' productions were better but the 2005 had a very unrefined taste from beginning to end. We tried the wine with pasta and spiced pork. Along with this wine, we also tried Pillar Box 2006 Padthaway Red and Annie's Lane 2004 Shiraz. Both the Pillar Box and Annies were better than this wine with Annies being the best of the three. Save your money and go for Annie's Lane 2004 Shiraz, if you can find it. It seems that all wine shops in the NYC area are sold out of it.

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.